Briers, the most prolific drop-goal kicker in the history of Super League, had missed with two short-range efforts to break the deadlock in the last five minutes but succeeded at the third attempt to break the hearts of the injury-hit champions.

The Rhinos looked to have ended Warrington's five-match winning run after outscoring their hosts by four tries to three but Zak Hardaker, kicking in the absence of Kevin Sinfield, was able to land only one of his four conversion attempts.

England winger Ryan Hall scored two tries, one of them a 100-metre solo effort, and 18-year-old Liam Sutcliffe, deputising at stand-off for the injured Sinfield, celebrated his new four-year contract with his sixth try in eight Super League appearances but it was not enough to hold off Warrington's late onslaught.

Leeds led 8-6 at half-time after taking their chances as Warrington squandered a host of opportunities. Man of the match Micky Higham put the home side in front after five minutes when he followed up his own delicate grubber kick to touch down and Brett Hodgson kicked the first of his three goals.

The Rhinos were always dangerous from long range and they duly took the lead with the aid of two tries in five minutes. Hall scored the first, with the aid of a deft one-handed flick pass from his centre Joel Moon. Young Sutcliffe then went 80 metres to score the second after pouncing on a stray pass from Stefan Ratchford.

The champions extended their lead two minutes into the second half when Hall intercepted Simon Grix's pass meant for Joel Monaghan to sprint the length of the field to score his second try.

Hardaker was once more off target with the goal and the Wolves drew level on 54 minutes when Ratchford spotted a gap in the Leeds defence and squeezed over from dummy half for his side's second try.

The momentum was clearly with Warrington at that stage but Leeds struck once more on the hour when Hardaker took a return pass from Sutcliffe to go in for a fourth try and this time he added the goal from close to the posts.

But the scores were level once more when Monaghan palmed the ball back from Briers' high kick for Hodgson to touch down. Hodgson's third goal made it 18-18 and, in a frantic finale, Briers was twice wide with drop-goal attempts before finally hitting the target.